§ 15

The furniture is of simple construction, home made, for, as we have seen, the householders take pleasure in craftsmanship. In the long winter evenings neighbours drop in, giving a helping hand to one another. It has been found to be far cheaper to make at home than to buy of profiteering tradesmen; it only means a little more industry, a good deal less drink, and a pleasure in making and creating innate in all creation, but which so-called civilisation has done much to crush. Since the prices demanded by labour became impossible, profiteering labour has been to a large extent boycotted. Now that economy has to be practised, working men as well as women have grown to be industrious. Each house is a little centre of industry, and great pleasure is evidently derived from following an instinct definite and surviving, that of creating and making all household implements at home. Since shops are rarer than they were, the home is a creating centre, a very home of industry. Hence the look of the people is content, it has something of proudness in its freedom of aspect. They have come into their rights by Industry, by Fraternity. Agitators who would renew disturbances are treated with contempt. The happiness created by productive labour has concentrated the people, given them health and manly independence, besides adding to their incomes. The unmanly vice of drunkenness is rare. When it is in evidence it is punished as an insult to the dignity of the citizen and a crime against the Commune. From its earliest years the child is taught that to be a good citizen is a virtue, and to live by labour a necessity. To give good work for good wage is held to be a virtue which, if proceeded with through life, makes a good man and woman. I was so interested in what my dream was revealing that I made more intimate observation. Upon the partition walls of the houses I noticed pleasant and quaint designs, childlike and barbaric, if you like, but gay, and evidently done by someone who wanted to express a pleasure in making nice shapes and bright colour.